Author's Note: AND JUST LIKE YOU ARE AT CHAPTER TWO! OH MY GOSH I HOPE YOU LOVE CULLEN AS MUCH AS I DO! I TRIED SO HARD ON HIM! I MEAN I WROTE THIS THING PROBABLY TEN TIMES BEFORE I FELT LIKE IT WAS CLOSE ENOUGH TO HIM TO WORK! ENJOOOOOOOYYYYYY! Read and Review (NICELY!).

Chapter 2

Elena spent the next morning down in the training yard. Cullen was putting her through her paces trying to figure out exactly what she did and did not know. She couldn't believe her good fortune to be a part of Inquisition's forces. This was a worthy endeavor and surely to end up in the history books and she was going to be a part of it. At times it felt like the commander was trying to get her to break and give up, some of these exercises were absolutely absurd. When the other recruits complained, Cullen would inform them in no uncertain terms that not only were they fighting people, they were also fighting mages and demons and quite possibly other types of monsters they weren't aware of. They must be prepared for anything, or risk dying. They'd be no use to the Inquisition dead.

Around midday came a break in the sheathed her blunted practice sword and walked towards a table where food was being served.

As she was waiting in line, she heard the commander's voice call to her. "Lady Trevelyan. A word."

She sighed and headed for him, "Yes, Commander?"

"How are you holding up?"

"I'm sorry, Commander, I don't understand the question."

"How is training?"

She shrugged, "It's training. Nothing the Templars haven't put me through already."

"You trained with Templars?" His eyebrows raised in incredulity, "That would explain your abilities."

She gave a slight shrug, adjusting herself so she was standing with most of her weight on one leg. She crossed her arms over her chest, "I worked hard. My family is very connected with the Chantry and Templars. They were more than happy to take me on once they learned they'd get a sizable… donation from my father in return for the training. I made sure not to take the opportunity for granted."

Cullen nodded, "I'm sure your Knight Commander appreciated that kind of work ethic."

"I didn't train under the Knight Commander. I just asked whoever was around to teach me. They're not really set up for training in Ostwick. It's more like exercise to keep themselves sharp. Of course, we don't have a large need for Templars since the Rebellion. Most of our mages left to join it."

"You're very talkative, my lady."

"It runs in the family." Elena said as a quiet apology.

"Indeed. I've noticed that about your brother as well."

"Commander, what did you need me for? It's not that I don't enjoy chatting with you; it's just that I'm hungry."

"Ah. Yes. I don't think you need as much training as the new recruits. I was wondering if you wouldn't mind me putting you to use in other ways?"

She smirked, "And by 'other ways' you mean…?" She gave him a flirtatious wink.

Cullen was visibly taken aback, "What? Not like—"He wiped a hand across his eyes, "Perhaps you can help the recruits learn how to be proper soldiers. There's a lot to being part of an army that I and my generals simply don't have the time to teach them."

"That doesn't sound too bad. What would I have to do?"

"You will practice with us during the morning, and in the afternoon you will need to teach the recruits how to maintain their armor, weapons, and gear. Once we secure mounts for the army, you can help us teach them to ride. I assume you know how to ride a horse?" He paused and waited for her. Elena nodded, "All right. While we wait for our mounts, you can also teach them how to set up and break down camps."

Elena considered all of this and then said slowly, "I take it this isn't really a request, more like a polite order?"

Cullen smiled, "You are a good soldier, aren't you?" He said in an almost teasing manner.

She threw her arms up in the air, "That's it. You caught me. I am the best soldier that ever soldiered in the history of soldier-dom, sir. Can I go eat now?"

"Of course, your duties begin after lunch. Start with weapons maintenance." Cullen instructed and they parted ways.

Elena took a dagger from the last recruit around the brazier in one of the small tents surrounding the practice field, "Keep practicing with the whetstone. This would work in a pinch, but it'll lose that edge quickly if it comes up against armor more than once." She handed it back to him hilt first, "I'll check it again tomorrow afternoon to see if you've improved it." The recruit thanked her and started walking away, muttering, "And don't think about asking one of Harrit's men to do it for you. They've all been sworn off recruits' daggers for a week!" She called after him.

She stood in silence looking out at the landscape, listening to the sounds of the practice field behind her. Metal clanged against metal and wood with soft, familiar sounds. She could hear Cullen and his generals getting onto the lazier soldiers and wondered what they were doing wrong. She watched a druffalo chase a ram away from a spot of grazing across the lake. Life at Haven had taken on a comfortable routine quickly. She'd only been there for a couple of weeks and already Haven felt more like home than Ostwick and her father's house ever had. It felt good to be useful. She loved getting to practice with her weapons every day. Cullen had moved her into a more advanced group and she was enjoying the challenge. Her own position as a teacher kept her from getting bored or exhausted from the training schedule in the peaceful little town. She was glad to just stand and enjoy the world around her.

When the sounds of a dismissal rang from the field a couple of minutes later, Elena turned and started to close the tent's flap. However, the tie was stuck. "Oh come on! Not again!" She pried at it with her fingernails, "Marston always does this! He ties it too tight!" She grumbled pulling out individual fibers, but somehow only managing to make the knot tighter, "And it's never in a slip knot. We're starting a round of knot tying for sure now!" She gasped as her fingers slipped and her thumb nail bit into the bed beneath her middle finger's nail, "Maker's Breath that hurts!" She sucked on her injured middle finger and grimaced at the tent flap. "I'm going to have to cut this tie again." She mumbled to herself around her finger.

"Do you need help, my lady?" Cullen's refined voice cut through her heated frustration like a cool breeze.

She blushed and took her finger from her mouth, "Commander! No! I just… yes." She admitted sheepishly, backing a step away and looking down at the ground, hands clasped behind her back. "It's just Recruit Marston. You see, he always ties this too tight and—"

Cullen cut her off, "I understand." He pulled out his belt knife, "No need to worry. It's only a bit of rope. We can get another one." He slashed the tie and let the flap fall. "There you are. Is your finger all right?"

She looked up at him, "Yes. I just pinched too hard and my thumb nail got under my other nail. It's done hurting now."

"Are you sure? You're acting strangely."

"I am?"

"Yes. You've never been this awkward towards me before."

"Erik told me to be more respectful towards you, sir." She whispered, ashamed that her brother had had to chastise her about her rather casual manner with the commander of the Inquisitions forces. He had been right. A man of that rank deserved more than what she had been giving him. Sarcasm was not the way to speak to your commanding officer.

Cullen looked at her for a long moment, his warm brown eyes searching her face carefully, "To be honest, my lady, I rather enjoyed your boldness. No one speaks to me like a man anymore." He looked away, at the western horizon, "Sun's starting to go down." He observed.

Elena couldn't help herself, "It does that every day sir. It usually means that it's about to be night time."

Cullen looked shocked, and then he began chuckling as he walked beside her, "Is that the time when it is dark outside? And there is no sun? And everyone goes to sleep?"

"Very good, sir!" She complimented, joining in with his chuckles. After a minute their chuckles died down to silence. Elena looked over at him as their feet crunched on the gravely ground. She wondered if he had even stopped for their midday meal. He often could be seen poring over papers and maps at that time. She bit her lip and came to a stop in front of the door to The Singing Maiden. Empress of Fire could be heard drifting through the wooden walls. She turned to face him fully as he came to stop beside her.

"Well, my lady, are you going in for a drink and a hot meal?" He inquired politely.

She nodded, "Yes. I am. Maker knows I need a drink after the lesson I had today with Corporal Cayleif." She rubbed her neck awkwardly. How was this good bye taking so long? Normally with the other men around camp she'd get where she was going and say something like 'Well. This is me. See you tomorrow.' They would respond in kind and that would be it. Why was saying goodbye to Cullen such a strange experience. It was almost like he didn't want to leave.

"Was he too hard on you?" Cullen queried, a slight line of worry appearing between his eyebrows.

"Not at all, he just had new things for me to learn today and I'm afraid I wasn't very good. He really put me through my paces!" Elena watched as Cullen visibly relaxed, "Well… I'm going in for some food and drink now. Kind of strange to be standing in the doorway with you like this, isn't it?"

"I suppose you're right. Enjoy your meal." He gave her a nod of the head and began to leave, hands pushed against his lower back, face turned to the sky. Her heart gave a tug.

"Unless—" She cut herself off, having startled herself by speaking at all. Cullen stopped and turned to face her, one eyebrow raised, waiting for her to finish her sentence, "Unless… you want to join me?" She had to physically restrain herself from slapping her palm to her forehead in embarrassment.

Cullen eyes widened in what appeared to be shock and he gave a low whistle as he considered this proposal, "That sounds well enough to me. You're sure you want to dine with me?"

Elena put her hands on her hips and huffed, "I wouldn't have asked if I wasn't sure, now would I? Come on inside out of this cold and eat some hot food. You'll sleep better on a full stomach at least." Cullen rejoined her and they both walked into the Singing Maiden for the night.

Author's note: Here you are! At the end of Chapter 2! ALREADY! WOW! I try to post in batches so you'll have PLENTY to read! Plus, that's kind of how I tend to write. In nice little batches. Like muffins. Or cupcakes. Or cookies. You get it. ANYWAY! I hope you enjoyed Chapters 1 and 2! I've included a SPECIAL SNEAK PEEK at Chapter 3. It's not much, but HOPEFULLY it is a nice little bread crumb for you. Peace and blessings. -Danbamina

Chapter 3

Elena woke the next morning with gentle care. Her body came slowly and comfortably awake. She stretched in her cot luxuriating in the simple pleasure a warm bed supplied. The hearth fire, which had burned low, gave a couple half-hearted crackles. Erik snored gently. He had gotten in late the previous night, back from the Storm Coast at last. He had brought with him a mercenary band called the Bull's Chargers. They had stayed up late going over his adventures. Erik was excited to bring the Chargers onto the Inquisition, even if he felt they were too expensive. Their leader, Iron Bull, was a giant, battle axe wielding Qunari who was going to be one of Erik's personal guards for future missions. She envied her brother his adventurous role in the Inquisition. What she wouldn't give to go and see the places he told her about, to do the things he spoke of! She sighed and rolled over, pulling her pillow against her body and found her mind wandering to her dinner with Cullen.